There’s something innately romantic about the landscape of Northern California. The cliffs and water in Big Sur are intoxicating and mesmerizing– the perfect place for your intimate northern California elopement.
I met Sydney + Kevin about a year ago when I was living in Lubbock, at an impromptu shoot that my bestie Kimberly Correa invited me to. It never really felt like strangers though– these two have an incredible ability to make everyone feel like their friends. And something about their relationship was magnetic, and I knew their story was special.
“something about their relationship was magnetic”
When they asked me to be a part of their elopement in October of 2021, it felt like everything was falling into place for them, and that me being a part of their journey was something that was important to them. I love when couples plan intentionally, and it makes it that much more of a big day when they pick me to film their day.
You may recognize these two from my recent blog post about planning your Big Sur elopement! We had such a fucking killer time that I wanted to designate space to talk about their day. We spent time together over three days during the week, and seriously what a perfect time.
“the perfect place for your intimate Northern California elopement”
Now I’m not a weather person BUT we met a local who shared with us that the fall is the best time to visit Big Sur. Northern California is notorious for crazy fog– mainly due to the collision of warm air and cool air in the bay. But when things cool off in the fall, there’s less of a difference in climates, which means less fog and more stunning views!
We started out getting ready at the family’s AirBnB. Kevin and Sydney brought along their closest family members to be a part of their day, and share the occasion with. Kevin’s sisters helped Sydney do her hair and makeup, and experiencing that small moment was so profound– literally watching two families come together is magic.
We departed and headed south past Carmel, and stopped at one of the scenic overlooks for S+K’s first look and ceremony. I love a good groom reaction, and Kevin’s reaction to Sydney’s wedding look was one for the books. We picked an overlook that ended up literally steps from the highway, with small trails leading out the cliff’s edge. This made for a beautifully memorable location for the ceremony, and was secluded enough for privacy.
“I love a good groom reaction, and Kevin’s reaction to Sydney’s wedding look was one for the books.”
After their emotional and intimate ceremony, we spent the afternoon driving to a few different spots for portraits. Because it was our third day in Big Sur, we knew the exact spots we wanted to take them to capture the different elements of the location. The Keyhole at Pfeiffer Beach was one of the big ones, and those shots only enhanced the mood of the day.
Finishing off the day, we beelined for sunset at Bixby Creek Bridge. We found a hill off the highway that overlooked the bridge, the water, the cliffs– it was PERFECT. It was absolutely the money shot, and the perfect way to end this incredible trip.
If you’re planning your Northern California elopement, I would highly recommend Big Sur!
[…] a 2-hour drive – you can be at Big Sur with the redwoods and oceanside cliffs (check out this Intimate Big Sur Elopement!), Yosemite with its iconic rocky peaks, or Shasta Lake with its serene waters and peaceful […]